‘Not all pigs and brick.’ Missouri named one of ‘most intriguing’ travel spots for 2019

Children play in a reflecting pool outside the new entrance to the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Missouri made the Wall Street Journal’s list of the Top 10 most intriguing travel destinations for 2019. Jeff RobersonAssociated Press

Children play in a reflecting pool outside the new entrance to the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Missouri made the Wall Street Journal’s list of the Top 10 most intriguing travel destinations for 2019. Jeff RobersonAssociated Press

Well, Missourians, here’s a thought as you make your travel plans for next year. Why not a staycation?

Because according to the Wall Street Journal, you already live in vacation heaven.

“It’s not all pigs and brick,” the Journal wrote of Missouri. “St. Louis, a fast-growing tech hub, is actively expanding its network of greenways that connect rivers and parks, including the revitalized Gateway Arch National Park.”

The Journal moved the lovefest westward, noting that the “21c Museum Hotel brand chose Kansas City for its latest endeavor, piggybacking on the river city’s percolating art scene.”

The 21c suite at the new 21c Museum Hotel Kansas City boasts a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of downtown.

Mike Schwartz courtesy of 21c Museum Hotels

At No. 6, wrote the Times, “Missouri doesn’t just make the grade, it ranks higher than Namibia, Warsaw, Tunisia and the Bahamas. Tell that to your snobby coastal-dwelling friends next time they duck out on a visit.”

The old Savoy Hotel at 9th and Central streets has undergone a $50 million transformation and is reopening as the 21c Museum Hotel Kansas City. The boutique hotel features 120 rooms, a contemporary art museum and a chef-driven restaurant.